Clinical, immunologic, and genetic characteristics of 148 patients with natural killer cell deficiency

Natural killer (NK) cell deficiency (NKD) is an immunodeficiency phenotype in which abnormality of NK cells is the major clinically relevant immune defect.

We sought to define the clinical, immunologic, and genetic characteristics of patients with NKD to aid in the understanding of these individuals and this cell type and guide future research and clinical practice.

During 2006-2022, 168 individuals with a suspected diagnosis of NKD were enrolled, with comprehensive clinical, immunologic, and genetic data collected and analyzed. Research exome sequencing was performed to identify both known and novel genetic associations.

NK cell abnormalities consistent with NKD were confirmed in 148 participants. Most presented during childhood (median age 13 years, range 0-76 years), though 34% were adults. All tested individuals exhibited reduced NK cell cytotoxic function; 44% also had decreased NK cell numbers and/or mature NK cells. Herpesvirus and/or papillomavirus infections were observed in 71%, malignancies were observed in 7%, and a 5% case-fatality rate was noted. Among the 99 participants who underwent research exome sequencing, 29% were considered solved for a likely contributing variant allele, with 52% of these cases involving known genes and 48% involving novel genes.

NKD is a phenotypic immunodeficiency associated with increased susceptibility to certain viral infections and cancer with multiple genetic etiologies, revealing key biological pathways for NK cell development and function. This research underscores the role of NK cells in human immune defenses and helps advance the identification of at-risk populations, precise genetic diagnoses, and informed clinical management for patients with NKD.